Stupid question ?? Young pullets, do they molt this year ?

[GermanChick]

I don't know if this is a stupid question but I have no clue.... SO..... my chickens just started to lay. Will they molt before the winter or will they have their first molt next year ?

 

[palochknldy]

Ours were hatched in April and I was told that they will not molt this year which I'm hoping is right since they are are just starting to lay consistently now.

 

[TigerLilly]

I believe I read somewhere on here that a chicken must go through an entire spring season to molt this year. If it was hatched sometime after that, it will not molt until next year.
Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong...I'm still new & my retention is not what it used to be!

Added: Just stumbled across the thread I was talking about--

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=104717

comment #3

 

[Matt A NC]

They should not molt their first year, but there are always exceptions. I have had them molt at only 7 months old and on the other hand I had a hen that didn't molt till she was 2.5 years old. She was flat out ragity by the time she molted.

Matt

 

[Mahonri]

I have a coop full of birds that all seem to be in molt. Some hatched in April! Maybe it's been the severe heat thing here.